378 A DISSERTATION ON SEMIRAMIS, 



Du r 1 n g these transactions^ 7 1 'sve's war a-M a h a - 

 dl'vAjOI-Ca'si'-pati (that is to say, Maha'-de'va, 

 the lord of the world and sovereign of Cds'i or Benares) 

 visited tne country of Pur u shot am a, in Utcola-de'- 

 s a or Or ijfa ; which he was surprized to find over- 

 spread with long grass, and without inhabitants. He 

 resolved to destroy the long grass, and for this pur- 

 pose, assuming the diminutive shape of a dove, with 

 an angry countenance, commenced the performance 

 Tapasyi ; his consort De'vi' also transformed herself 

 into a bird of the same species; and from that time 

 rhey were known to mankind, and worshipped under 

 the titles of Capo'te'swara and Capo'te'si' or 

 Iswara and Isi', in the shape of a dove. They set 

 fire to the Qisha } or long grass, and the country be- 

 came like Vindra-van near (Mutlra) and was soon fill- 

 ed with inhahitarits. The spot where they performed 

 their Tapa'fya, is called to this day Capo fast' halt, or 

 the place of the dove. It is a celebrated place of 

 Worship, and, as I am informed, about five coss from 

 ' - *anMt*ba. 



Almost the whole universe was likewise at this 

 time overspread with long grass; and to destroy it, 

 Maha-deVa, w r ith his consort, resolved to travel 

 round the world. They accordingly proceeded into 

 Cusba-diapt which they found thinly inhabited by a few 

 Mlech % has y or impure tribes, and the Tavanas y who 

 concealed their booty in the grass which covered the 

 country. 



Mah a'-de'v a took compassion on them, and con- 

 sidering their sufferings in this inhospitable country 

 as a sort of Tapasyd % he resolved to bestow Mocsba, 



or 



